Testborg



A. G. E. HULTGREN ANU P. S. RYBCL ALLjmlwfg'foR DOUBLE now RADIAL BALL ummm.

. APPLCTlON FILED MAR. 2l, 19H14 LFYQ. Patemd May 13, 1919i,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. G..E. HULTGREN AND P. S. RYDBECK.

BALI. RETAINER FDR DOUBILE ROW RADIAL BAIL BEARINGS.

IIPLICATION FILED MAR. ZI. |918.

1,303,479. I Patented May 13, i919.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.INVENTORS WITNESS: r @a /fu mdf/maf@ ol/Ww I By Attorneys,

narran srarns PATENT hllqlht AXEL GUSTAF EMANUEL HULTGREN ND PATBIK SAMUEL RYDBECK, 0F G-O'ITENBORG,

SWEDEN, ASSIG-NORS 'IO AKTIEBOLAGET SVENSKA KULLAGERFABRIKEN. 0F GOT TENBORG, SWEDEN, A C ORPORATION OF SWEDEN.

BALL-RETAINER FOR-.DOUBLE-ROW RADIAL BALL-BEARINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 13, 19W.

Application filed March 21, 1918.k Serial No. 223,849.

A To all 'whom t may concern:

Beit known that we, AXEL GUsTAF EMAN- UEL HULTGREN and PATRIK SAMUEL RizonEoK, subjects oli the King of Sweden, and residents of Gottenborg, Sweden, have mf vented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-Retainers for Doublellow Radial Ball-Bearings, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had therein to the drawings accompanying and forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to ball retainers, and particularly to ballretainers'ior double row radial ball bearings which consist of one or more rings, or the like, having lateral bores forming pockets for theballs, or corresponding depressions or recesses (for 1nstance in ball retainers of pressed-sheetn metal).

ln ball retainers of this kind hitherto known, the center linesof the bores, or recesses, were always directed axially, and the dimensions of the'ball retainer, i. e. the width and the thickness of the ring, were chosen, for a certain size of the bea-rirfg, with regard to the diameter of the balls, andl also with regard to the kind of radial ball bearings in which the ball retainer was intended to be used. Thus, for instance, in a ball bearing of ra certain predetermined size and a certain predetermined ball diameter, the thickness of the ring can be considered to be lixed, and the width of the ring only depends on the f type of bearing, z'. e. on whether the bearing is of the rigid or of the self-alining type.

ln a bearing of the first mentioned type, in. which theballs run in grooves in both bearing rings, the task of the ball 'retainer is confined to the keeping of the balls of each row at predetermined distances from one another, and in such case the width of the ring need only be made so much larger than the `distance between the center planes of tent that the balls lose their contact with the spherical inner surface of the outer ring'. This condition will be fulfilled it the smallest circle determined by the two outermost points of a ball pocket and a. point at lthe outer shoulder of the grooved bearingI ring is less than the circumference ot a ball. This implies that the insertion ot the last balls into the ball retainer placed in position inthe bearingtakes place under pressure and .by means of the elasticikfotl the ball retainer. I

Obviously, the capability of the ball retainer of holding the balls increases as the diameter of the aforesaid circle decreases.

A known means of accomplishing this result consists in makingthe width of the ball retainer ring larger than necessary for lirmly suplmrting the balls in the peripheral direction, z'. e. by making the said width considerably larger than the distance between the center planes of the rows of balls. This entails, however, for one thing, that the ball retainer will be comparatively large and, for the otlierfthat the depth of the pockets inll creases, by which the cost et manufacture will be increased. Particularly in using" solid ball retainers, they will be heavy and, consequently, disadv-antageous in working.

A likewise known means consists in increasing the height of the outer shoulders of the grooved bearing ring beyond the normal -one, which is determined, for a certain known ,diameter-of the balls, so that the groove obtains a suliicient width. An increase of the diameter of the outer shoulders implies, however, a corresponding increase of the width of the said bearing ring, but, on account of the standardizing of the modern annular ball bearings, this .width must be fixed for eachseparate kind of bearing, and, therefore,:also this means is disadvantageous.

An equally known means for securing the balls in position consists in this that, in ball bearings in which the outer bearing ring ,is interiorly spherical in shape, the center lines of the ball pockets are situated somewhat nearer to the axis of the bearing, and, in ball bearings having a spherical inner bearing ring, somewhat farther from the said axis,

than are fthe centers of the balls. This entails, however` that the diameter et the ball pockets is made larger than the diameter of the balls and that the balls are placed eccentrically in the pockets, which, 'for one thing, implies a weakening oi the ball retainer and. for the other, has proved itself to be disadvantageous in other respects.

This invention has for its object to provide a ball retainer of the kind described, which, while maintaining' a width slightly larger than the distance between the center planes of the rows of balls, and without the normal dimensions of the bearing rings being changed, rmly retains the balls and at the same time does net prevent thatv` theoretically, the diameter of the ball pockets is made equal to the diameter of' the balls.

lVith this object in view, the invention consists, chiefly, in the center lines of the ball pockets having oblique directions -relatively to the axis of rotation oti the bearing'. Preferably, the said center lines lie on a cone the axis of which coincides with the axis of the bearing'. It is obvious that the apex ot the-said cone must be situated at the same side of the radial center plane of they bearing as the corresponding row of balls or at the opposite side thereof, respectively, accordingY as the `spherical surface is arranged at. the outer o at the inner ringn of the bearing. Obviously, the center lines ot' the ball pockets may well be arranged so as to coincide with a hyperbolic surface the axis of which coincides with the axis of the bearine'.

ln the drawings, Figures l and Qshow a solid ball retainer accordiiier to the invention adapted tor a double row ball bearing having an i1'iternall \7 spherical outer ring. Fig. 'l is a cross-section of part. of the ball retainer (the balls and the race rings indicated by dashed and dotted lines). Fig. 2 is a partial Side elevation of the said ball re* tainer. Fig. 3 is a partial end view of a known ball retainer, and Fig. 4 is a similar end view of a ball retainer according-to the invention.

Referring' to the drawings, the ball retainer consists, in the form of embodiment shown, of a solid ring 1 havinglateral bores 2. 'lhe condition of the balls being retained at the inner race ring 3, even it the lat ter be swung relatively to the outer 'ace ring` 4 to such an extent that the balls 5 are. brought out of Contact with the last-men-- tioned ring, is, as known` that the circle determined by the two voutermost points a.

and b of a ball pocket Vand the point c' lying syn'imetrically in relation to the said points a and b, on the outer shoulder of the inner bearing' ring, is smaller than thecir.- eum'lerence of the ball 5.

It is obvious that the capability of the ball retainer of retaining the balls atthe bearin, r ring 3 is increased as the circle through the three points a, t), and c aforo said is diminished.

A. means of diminishing the said circle consists, according to the invention, in ar- 'anging the ball pocket 2, or the center line (S-t thereof, obliquely in relation to the axis of the bearing, as shown in Fig. l. lhe center line is here considered as the axis ot' a cylindrical bore forming the pocket, and the several center lilies as lying .in a conical surface the axis ot which coiir cides withl the axis of the bearing. It tur ther passes through the center point 7 of the ball 5. as shown, by which the diameter of the ball pocket 2 can, theoretically, be made equal to the diameter' ot the ball.

In comparing the ball retainers shown in Figs. 3 and l, it clearly appears that the distance between the points a and b in Fig. et is less than the corresponding distance in Fig. 3. Also the distances 0@ and 0-5 in Fig. l are less than the correspoxnling` distances in Fig. 3.

The said distances are chosen so that the. last balls can be pressed into the corresponding, pockets by means of the elasticity or' the ball retainer.

l't is further obvious that the use of the ball retainer is not limited to, se-called, sclt-alining ball bearings, but it may be used in double row radial ball bearings of any kind.

lVhat we claim is :w

l. A. ball retainer for radial ball bearings, consisting of a ring having; lateral bores or recesses serving as pockets for the balls, and in which the center lines of the said ball pockets extend obliquely in relation to the axis of rotation of the bea-ring` and a. portion of the ring over-hangs the outer sides ot the balls to hold them against thel inner ball race of the bearing.

i2. ball retainer for double row radial ball bearings, consisting: of a ringhaving on opposite sides lateral bores or recesses serv ing' as pockets for the balls, and in which the center lines ,of the said ball pockets extend obliquely in relation to the axis of rotation ot the bearing, the Obliquity being 4such that a portion et' the ring overhangs the outer sides of the balls toV hold them from escaping outwardly.

3. A ball retainer for radial ball bearings, consisting of a ring having lateral bores or recesses serving as pockets for the balls, and in which the center lines of the said ball pockets extend obliquely in relation to the axis of ,rotation of the bearing, and pass through the centers ot' the balls, the latter arranged on rotative axe-s forming lines also oblique tosuch axis, the respective oblique lines lying on cones directed, both to the saine side of the row. of balls.

meme@ A, ball reta-mer for mdie bail beerings consisting of :L ring of Solid metal hav iup; bei?. pockets eonsstlng of recesses e11- reing; the ring latemy and, @zieh consti-- fcuiiing a segment of a cylinder the axis of which is oblique to the axis of rotation of 'H' e bearing, her Obliquity being such that tl i pockets sightly overhang, the balls at NEW wie' the outer side @if the ring and mi the open ends of the pockets, whereby to pfevent zhe le outward escape of the balls.

In testimony whereof We wlix uur sigmf ntures.

AXEL GUSTM EIVANUJEL HL'GREN. PATREK SMHUEL RIDBECK, 

